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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet l. K. V. BARNEKOV.

SQUARE PIANO.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. K. V. BARNEKOV.

SQUARE PIANO.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

WITNIBSSES:I MENTOR 8 Ma /ya @fi7Zww ATTORNEY8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

KIEL V. BARNEKOV, OF NEIVBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO OORINNA R. IRWIN AND JENNIE MAY BARNEKOV, OF SAME PLACE.

SQUARE PIANO.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,182, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed July 12, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KIEL V. BARNEKOV, of Newbuig, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Square Pianos, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to certain improvements in square pianos, whereby the action is simplified and an enlarged volume of tone obtained that approaches to some extent to that produced by grand pianos.

The invention consists of a square piano in which the sounding-board and string-frame are supported on an open bottom frame com- I 5 posed of intersect-ing base-timbers, diagonal braces, and rim-pieces, the wrestplank being arranged at the front of the case. The treble and middle strings are arranged to run from right to left, while the bass-strings are overstrung diagonally and from the left to the right hand corner of the string-frame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of my improved square piano, showing the metallic string-frame and strings. Fig. 2 is a plan of the supportingframe with the string-frame and soundingboard removed, and Fig. 3 is avertical 1ongitudinal section on line 00 m, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- 0 sponding parts.

A in the drawings represents the case of my improved square piano. The case Asupports an open-bottom frame, which consists of rectangularly-intersecting timbers a a, di-

agonallydntersecting braces b b, and rimpieces at d, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The sounding-board A rests upon the rim-pieces d d of the case A in the usual manner. The rim-pieces d (I also support, above the sound- 0 ing-board, a metallic string-frame, B,in which the middle and treble strings extend from the right toward the left, while the overstrung bass strings extend diagonally from the lefthand front corner to the right-hand rear cor- 5 ner of the string-frame B, and cross thereby Serial No. 137,510. (No model.)

the middle and treble strings nearly at right angles, as shown in Fig. l. The soundingboard bridges, ribs, and open parts of the string-frame B are arranged to correspond to this disposition of the strings, which enables the action to be greatly reduced in length, the actions of the treble and middle strings being all of equal length, while those of the bassstrings gradually increase in length, so as to reach the bass-strings, as indicated by the open space for the hammers marked 3/ y in Fig. 1. The wrest-plank B and the tuningpins are arranged at the front of the piano, whereby the tuning is facilitated and the bending over the string-frame to get at the tuningpins at the rear of the same withdrawn.

The construction of the stringframe and strings admits the use of an open-botto1n frame, by which the tone is more effectively emitted than with the closed bottoms of the square pianos heretofore in use. The strain exerted on the metallic string-frame is more evenly distributed and balanced, so that a stringframe of less weight and strength can be used.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination, in a square piano, of a supporting-case, A, an open -bottom frame composed of intersecting base-timbers a a, diagonal braces b b, and rim-pieces d d, a sounding-board, A, resting thereon, a wrest plank, B, at the front of the piano, a stringframe, B, secured to the rim-pieces, the treble and middle strings of the string-frame running from the right to the left, while the overstrung bass strings extend diagonally from the left front corner to the right rear corner of the string-frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres- 85 ence of two witnesses.

KIEL V. BARNEKOV.

lVitnesses:

CHAS. A. DIXON, EDWARD P. GoRWrN. 

